Faith community keeps a promise

?Norm Williamson remembers, while he was still teaching English at Mendocino College, that it was a long time ago, more than 25 years, when he and Tom McMillan and Sister Jane Kelly realized there was an unmet need in the community: although Plowshares was providing meals to the hungry during the week there was no nutritional support on weekends. Williamson says, "These people weren't getting food on the weekend."

Led by Sister Jane Kelly from St. Mary's Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations joined in the effort to create the weekend sack lunch program, providing one meal a day?on Saturday?and?Sunday, distributed at the Social Services building at?1 p.m.

Today there are volunteer members from 12 faith-based organizations in the local community who come together once or twice a month to provide a service for those less fortunate.

Carrie Brigham, Executive Director of Plowshares, took on the mantle of coordinator for the program last year.

"When I look at the archives, it looks like this community has been providing this service for well over 25 years," she said. "I think Sister Jane started it in the parking lot of the Catholic Church. Each organization, including Plowshares, participated once a month or every six weeks, for a weekend or one day of the weekend. The people we are serving are regular guests of Plowshares; they are not homeless; they are food insecure."

"I do it regularly and we serve anywhere from 70 to 100 people a day; at the end of the month I serve 200 meals for the two-day weekend," Brigham said. "I make bologna and cheese sandwiches, deviled eggs, fruit, potato chips, a macaroni or potato salad, water and dessert. It depends on what is on hand in the Plowshares kitchen and my husband and I make up the difference. If I have any leftover lunches after distribution, I drive around town looking for hungry people. They aren't hard to find.

"I feel the compassion and love that each faith-based organization brings to doing the sack lunch program. They are committed; many of them have been doing it for more than two decades. They include the cost into their own budgets. I recently had a conversation with a member of the Methodist Church and although she said their funds are limited, they stay committed. Each group spends about $100 per day; that doesn't go a long way.

"Bottom line: this program sustains people," Brigham said.

It's the third?Sunday?of the month and Kol Ha'Emek, the Inland Jewish Community, is preparing lunches in the Plowshare's kitchen. Cassie Gibson, in conjunction with Dan Hibshman, has been coordinating their effort for quite a while. "When my kids were in high school, about 10 or 15 years ago, Janine Lieberman asked me to serve as Jewish liaison to the Interfaith Council," Gibson said. "There were representatives from many churches as well as Mark Rohloff, then head of the Ford Street Program, and Doug Strong, a very involved member of our community at large. Norm Williamson was the overall coordinator; we met monthly and he did the calendars.

"About five years ago we met with Mary Leighton Thomas, a lay minister from the Catholic Church, and decided we needed to do dinners at the Buddy Eller Center, too," Gibson continued. "We participate in both, making lunches on odd-numbered months and serving dinner on even-numbered months. It has developed into two separate groups and churches participate in both programs; some do lunches, some do dinners and some do both."

The Jewish Community has a Tzedakah Fund; it's for charity, giving, doing good. People in the congregation contribute regularly and the Fritz and Marion Margolis Frank Fund is specifically funded for the sack lunch and dinner programs.?

Gibson says, "We allocate $120 per month for food; this month the cost was $160 and my husband and I provided the extra necessary money. We bag cheese sandwiches, chips, cookies, fruit, water and dessert.

"I feel that food is a basic right. I like to participate at the local level and this is is easy enough, a monthly commitment; I feel like I am contributing in a worthwhile manner.

"We have all become really good at completing this in an hour or an hour and a half. I love doing something with the Jewish community and it's a great opportunity for us to get together. Everyone here has been volunteering for a long time and we have all become closer because of it.

"The Methodist Church was kind enough to let us use their kitchen, while they were having services in the adjacent hall, for ten years. When Carrie took over here she offered the Plowshares kitchen. Initially I was hesitant but this space is really wonderful; it's easier to get it done."

Gibson adds, "We are always looking for other churches to participate. Since congregations vary in size and participation at any level is welcome."

Carol Park is putting mustard on one side of the sandwich. "I feel that part of the Jewish tradition is to leave the world a better place than you found it; this is my way of contributing to a better world in our community and," she adds, "my friends are here. There but for the grace of God go I."

Ron Reed is putting cheese slices on top of the mustard. "People are hungry. I have been in this spot before and if it happened again I would want people to help me out."

Putting the final touches on the sandwich, Margo Frank says with quiet passion. "It is important for me to be of service and there is none greater than making sure people in my community aren't hungry. When we distribute the lunches, people are so thankful and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve."

?Faith-based community organizations that participate in the sack lunch program include: Plowshares Peace and Justice Center, Ukiah United Methodist Church, Saint Mary of the Angels Catholic Church, First Baptist Church of Ukiah, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Buddhist Tzu CHI Foundation, First Christian Church of Ukiah, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 2, Kol Ha'Emek Jewish Community, First Presbyterian Church of Ukiah, and Redwood Valley Community Church.

If your faith-based community is interested in participating in the sack lunch program call Carrie Brigham at?707-462-8582?or email her atplowshares@pacific.net